Day 16: Jesus Is Your Vine
Read John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Reflect
Did you notice a primary thought that Jesus is communicating in these verses? The words abide or remain are used interchangeably eight times – that’s significant. In Greek the word for “abide/remain” is mĕnō. It is a verb meaning to stay in a given place, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry. In verse seven we are told that if we remain (mĕnō) in Jesus as a branch does to its vine, then we can ask for anything we want and it will be granted. The word “ask” in the Greek is aitĕō. Other words it encompasses are to beg, call for, crave, desire, require, insist, request. Let’s put these two ideas in this passage together. If you are abiding in, staying present, continuing in your relationship with Jesus, then you are allowing God’s Word to take an authoritative role in your heart and mind, and you are growing in Him. You are being transformed in your thinking and will. Now, you are ready to experience this aitĕō kind of prayer where you boldly, courageously and confidently come to God’s throne and ask for anything. Why? Because your heart and mind are aligned with God when you are abiding in Him and you are praying in His will. It is usually dry rot, lack of water or other diseases between a branch and a vine that breaks the abiding relationship the branch needs to survive. When we sin and make bad choices (which we all do), , it creates this dry rot and disease between us (as branches) and Jesus (as the vine).
Are you remaining and abiding as a healthy branch on the vine? Here’s a good way to do a check-up and determine if you are connected to the vine in a healthy way. A healthy branch produces healthy fruit. In our lives it is demonstrated by showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). If your fruit is smelling or appearing a bit rotten it may be shown by actions such as: cursing, pride, rage, lying, judging, hatred, intolerance, or out-of-control behavior.
A healthy branch produces healthy fruit. In our lives it is demonstrated by showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Respond
Do you want to begin on a journey to produce good fruit? Ask Jesus to help you stay connected to His vine and He will help you make right choices so you can grow spiritually and bear great fruit. Example: If there is unconfessed sin between you and God, confess it to Him, ask Him to forgive you, clean you off and prune you so that your heart feels the freedom of living in His vine of grace. Don’t hold on to old, past mistakes, thoughts or shame. As a Christ-follower, you are God’s child and He sent His only Son to die for you, which sets you free from the condemnation of your past. Romans 8:1, tells us “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 John 1:9, says “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Now, if you are already abiding in the vine and there is something that you need from God, come boldly to His throne with your requests. He wants to bless you and help you. As His child, He wants you to come and ask so He can give to you in abundance (v. 7). Be bold, believe and be a branch connected to the Vine.